Women cheer during World Cup matches

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Aizawl, Jul 7: Women in Mizoram have taken the lead as cheer leaders in World Cup matches this season.

The Mizo women were seen crowding television sets, participating in street discussions on football and rearranging their lives around game schedules.

Local administration minister H Vanlalauva's wife C Lalhmingmawii and state apex women's body Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl's (MHIP) Senior Vice President Darhmingthangi were among the cheer leaders from the VIP section.

''This year due to health problems I could not manage to see all the matches on my TV set but I enjoyed 70 per cent of matches thoroughly. I'm sorry for the Germans. They couldn't make it to the top of the ladder but even so it's an entertaining World Cup. At least they should secure the third place,'' minister's wife C Lalhmingmawii told sources.

Many other high-profile female fans, including former Miss East India runner up Lalzikpuii, Padma Shree Lalsangzuali Sailo et al, civil aviation superintendent Brenda Lalkunga, senior research investigator art and culture Faki Zuali and Mona Zote, a prominent writer watch the match every night.

''NGO business happens everyday but World Cup soccer happens only in four years that too for only about a month. So other works can wait and I will give much of my time for football,'' Darhmingthangi, Sr. Vice President of MHIP said.

''I'm an avid fan of England and Argentina but my hopes were dashed to the ground when both of them crashed out earlier than expected. Italy has beaten the host nation. They are the hot favourites for me. Ballack and Miroslav Klose should have done better,'' Padma Shree Lalsangzuali Sailo said.

Even though 76-year-old Lalawii had to rely on a dose of dextrose injection to keep her frail body alive due to internal bleeding she refused to miss the World Cup matches.

''I might not live for another four years to see the next World Cup football, so I can't miss a thing from this World Cup. I will be very happy if England had won the Cup but then Cristiano Ronaldo crashed all my dreams. This could be my last World Cup. My dreams would have come through had England won,'' Lalawii said.

Die-hard women football fans in the state capital or near the Indo-Myanmar border, wearing their latest favourite football stars' jerseys and caps, get hooked to the idiot box since the first kick off.

It is a long way from the days when football was strictly men's business and female spectators were unnoticed.

With the football fever gripping the state street football is being played everywhere.

Hotels, tea shops and other places, including government offices, schools and colleges were already engaged with heated bets about the final match.

Football fans were seen praying to rain Gods for more downpour to enable the state owned Mizoram State Electricity Board keep unhindered power supply during the nights.

UNI